Re: Variable speed of light

[Pentcho Valev <pvalev@BAS.BG>]

Chuck Britton wrote:

> At 4:10 PM +0200 4/29/03,  Pentcho Valev wrote:
>
> > Just a small remark (later I hope to be able to write more). In textbooks, one
> > finds essentially the following statement: "While  clocks in the rest frame
> > tick 5 times, clocks on the (very fast) train tick only once". Doesn't this
> > mean that t' < t? If it doesn't, textbooks appear to be fatally confused.
> >
> > Pentcho
>
> This interpretation of the delta t's and the Lorentz equations is
> quite common among those who are first plowing into the intricacies
> of SR.

I cannot see any reason why such intricacies should exist in textbooks.

> In your example t' = 5 t because the INTERVAL between ticks has been
> stretched (according to the outside observer).
>
> Of course EACH of the two observers sees the other's clock running
> slow. This also causes some head-scratching for those getting there
> toes immersed.

You offer an inconsistency here and this is very dangerous. There is no rational
scheme in which the statements "clocks on the train are slower" and "clocks in the
rest frame are slower" could coexist. Even if you see some special way in which
they do coexist, the whole story should by no means be taught to students - only
high level experts should discuss it at high level meetings.

Pentcho